The Day Hope Returned: Charles Allen Reed's Journey Out of the Darkness

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This week on the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, I sit down with someone whose story will stay with you long after you finish listening.
His name is Charles Allen Reed, and his journey is one of the most honest, heartbreaking, and ultimately hope-filled conversations I’ve had on this show.

Charles grew up surrounded by challenges most adults would struggle to handle, let alone a child. His mother courageously lived with MS, his home life carried deep emotional strain, and by the age of 13, Charles had already begun down a path of alcohol and drug addiction. His teenage years and early adulthood became a fast-moving spiral — one filled with rebellion, pain, and choices that pulled him further away from the person he truly was.

He speaks openly about the moments that broke him, the toxic patterns he witnessed at home, the addiction that consumed him, and the consequences that followed — including the moment he became a father while still trapped in the darkest parts of his disease.

But here’s where Charles’ story becomes extraordinary.

Because just when it seemed like all hope was gone…something happened.

Something he didn’t expect, wasn't looking for and something that changed everything — instantly.

And that moment led him to where he is today: sober, present, connected to his family, rebuilding his life, and helping others find their way forward through his work in the community, recovery organizations, and beyond.

I won’t give away what happened — you need to hear it in his own words.
Trust me, it’s powerful. 

Charles is a husband, present father, sober, and sharing his story to help others. 

If you or someone you love has ever felt hopeless, lost in addiction, or unsure whether change is possible, this episode is an absolute must-listen. Charles reminds us that even in the darkest places, transformation can begin in a single moment.

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If you or your organization are looking to deepen connection, strengthen client and customer relationships, unify executive and sales teams, or bring more alignment and purpose to nonprofit professionals, I’d love to partner with you. Through coaching, trainings, and collaborative strategy work, I help teams reconnect to each other, their mission, and the people they serve. 

Let’s work together to make meaningful connection a cornerstone of your culture.

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